YouTube shakes hands with French artists

Signs content deal with three royalty collectors

Google’s YouTube inked a deal with three French royalty-collecting outfits yesterday.

Under the agreement Google will pony up cash to screenwriters, directors and other artists represented by the SCAM, SACD and ADAGP agencies in France.

Financial terms of the deal, which will be backdated to YouTube’s arrival in the French market in 2007, are still being determined, according to a statement (in French) put out by the groups.

The money will be dished out to the three royalty societies’ members. The agreement, which extends up to 2013, applies only to content viewed in France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

"This breakthrough opens up significant new opportunities for our members," said SACD boss Pascal Rogard. "Now, the authors of Societies of Authors members will receive a French fair remuneration for the exploitation of their works on YouTube." ®